It's the Little Things

It’s the second week of January and I am still recovering from a wonderful and jam-packed Christmas season. Whew! Dealing with a painful hip and hobbling around for the past month has dampened my usual burst of January energy to bring order back into my cluttered house. Instead I’ve had plenty of time to sit with an ice pack or heating pad (depending on the latest diagnosis of my hip pain) and reflect on the events of Christmas and my thoughts for the New Year.

Celebrating Christmas with both my sons and their families was very special. It’s a normal experience for many families but— because of time, distance, and circumstances— a rarity for me.  Because I don’t want to forget the details, I compiled a list of some memories that made it such a special time. Here are a few:  

• Ten of us at Stone Mountain Park with me in a wheelchair being pushed over the rough terrain by my strapping grandson.
• Watching granddaughters decorating cut-out sugar cookies with lots of sprinkles.
• A row filled with Dixons and Davises listening to Charles play O Holy Night on his harmonica at the church Christmas Eve Service.
• Working with my daughter-in-law in the kitchen to keep everyone fed.
• Star Wars gifts under the tree reminiscence of my sons’ younger years when it was all about Star Wars. 

So as 2016 begins, my resolution is to be more mindful of the smaller events of life—those things that give life its richness. I want to take time to talk to someone I meet at the grocery store, pay attention to the birds on our deck, be thankful for a warm house and a hot cup of tea.

Instead of a sweeping (no pun intended) resolution to de-clutter my house from top to bottom, I will tackle my to-do list one item at a time and will be thankful for each small step.  Clean out one drawer in the kitchen, sort one pile on my desk, review and delete 100 old emails in my inbox instead of 1000.

I will find one Bible verse or devotional thought to focus on each day and savor its meaning, and pray for one or two persons each day that God puts in my mind and on my heart. Here is one of my favorite Bible verses and a good one for all of us to think about often during 2016.  

Have a blessed New Year.

Ephesians 4:8-9

“Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.” 

It's Christmas Time

My friend, Tanya, and I were blessed to write an Advent devotional booklet for our fellow church members to help them prepare for the Christmas season. Each one of our devotions was based on a verse from the beloved Christmas song, O Holy Night. Below is one of the devotions I wrote to remind us to celebrate the real reason for the season, the birth of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

O Holy Night

“Behold your King! Before him lowly bend!”

But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good

news that will cause great joy for all the people.  Today in the town

of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the

Lord.”  Luke 2:10-11

The Mercy Me song, I Can Only Imagine, was very popular on Christian and secular radio a few years back. The beautiful lyrics of that song help our human heart and eyes to visualize what it will be like to be in God’s presence before the King of Kings.

The shepherds of the Bible actually saw what that song portrays. The angels’ sudden appearance over the hills of Bethlehem lit up the sky with the glory of God. The shepherds of the Bible were ostracized and considered unclean by Jewish society. Their lot in life was to guard and care for dirty sheep in relative isolation. Yet, those lowly Jews were the first to receive the good news of Jesus birth and an introduction to the King of Kings. They overcame their fear and hurried to find Mary, Joseph, and the newborn Savior. They willingly fell to their knees in worship.

Become aware of those around you who are on the fringes of society. During the Christmas season think of one thing you can do to share the good news with them.

God, it is so easy to look past those who don’t look like me and who live in a different part of town. Open my eyes to ways I can share your love with them. Amen!

Thanks for reading and sharing my blog posts in 2015. I wish you 

and your family a blessed Christmas and a joyful New Year.

Practice Thanks Living (Part 3)

My celebration of Thanksgiving may be over, but my year of giving thanks is just beginning. Starting now and through 2016, I plan to concentrate on thanks living. A familiar quote from Bill Keane is motivating me in that direction.

“Yesterday is history, tomorrow is a mystery, today is a gift of God,

that’s why we call it the present.”

I’ve mostly dealt with my past and learned from it. I’m replacing my anxiety about the future with hope. But what do I do about TODAY… I feel the stress level rising as I write the words below:

• A phone call from the doctor says, “You need more tests.”
• A rude driver cuts me off and blasts his horn.
• A unexpected situation thwarts my plans for the day.
• A broken appliance ruins the budget for the month.

 Today is a Gift of God

Growing older with more life experiences under my belt gives me a better perspective on coping with daily stress. An attitude of gratitude and a good sense of humor empower me to tackle my problems one by one. No matter what comes my way today, it helps if I can look at each challenge as a gift. Another important tool for managing my daily stress is flexibility. Some days I wish I was more like  GUMBY — a tall colorful balloon that swings and sways in the wind. It also helps to find ways to share your burden with another person who will encourage and pray for you.

We all like to think we are in charge and control of our lives, when in reality we have to “let go and let God.” My personal experience of almost dying from liver disease before getting a liver transplant almost 18 years ago is a constant reminder to me that each day is a gift. Nobody knows what tomorrow will bring. We need to celebrate each day as a blessing and an opportunity to give back to others. Not only is today a gift to you, but you can be a gift for someone else. A prayer, a visit, or an act of kindness goes a long way toward putting a smile on another person’s face.

As we contemplate December 25th when the best “present” of all became flesh to dwell among us, take time to “present” yourself to God so that you may experience His “presence” during this Christmas season.

Practice Thanks Living (Part 2)

I wrote in my last post that my goal for 2016 is to practice Thanks Living based on a familiar quote by Bill Keane.

“Yesterday is history, tomorrow is a mystery, today is a gift of God,

which is why we call it the present.”

It’s easy to be under the delusion that past hurts and circumstances can’t hurt me anymore. I tell myself that I’ve dealt with my past and it doesn’t control my life today. But, from time to time, the past rears its head and must be dealt with again. However, my greatest challenge is keeping a proper perspective on the future.

Tomorrow is a Mystery

I don’t like mysteries. When I am reading a mystery novel, I often turn to the back to see how it all comes out; then go back and read the rest of the story. Personality-wise I’m a realist, a planner, and a fixer which is not a good combination for dealing with an unknown future. Since I can’t grasp the future, do anything about it, or keep something from happening—I get frustrated and turn into a WORRIER. In spite of my Christian faith and growing understanding of what the Bible says about worrying—it’s an ever present DANGER.

Worry is caused by fear and our bodies and minds are not equipped to deal with being under a constant state of alert. Maybe that’s why the Bible speaks so clearly on the subject. “Fear not” is mentioned in the Bible more than 365 times—once for each day of the year, plus. So, I decided to make a list of the things in my future I tend to worry about—failing health, being alone, loss of a loved one, and financial problems.  SURPRISE!  I’ve experienced every one of those things and I survived. The God who provided for me in ways I’ve never imagined will provide for me in the future. My future may be a mystery to me, but God sees my life from the beginning to the end and it’s all in His hands.

One of the advantages of growing older is perspective. As I look back on things I worried about, I find that the majority of my worries never came to pass. Things that weren’t even on my radar screen became daily priorities instead. Think of all the time I wasted worrying about what never came to pass. Make this a true season of Thanks Living by memorizing the following verse and living by its message.

“Don't worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, 

and thank him for all he has done.” (and what He will do).  NLT Philippians 4:6

My final post in this series will come in two weeks: Today is a Gift of God. Please comment below and share your thoughts.  If you post anonymously, please add your name at the end of your message. God Bless and Happy Thanksgiving. I love hearing from you.

Practice Thanks Living (Part 1)

Thanksgiving is one day or maybe a month during which we focus on feasting and being thankful.  Thanksgiving is also the first day of the holiday rush. I get so bogged down that by the time the holidays are over I’m worn out, and the idea of making New Year’s resolutions seems overwhelming. So this year I decided to determine my goals for 2016 early in connection with Thanksgiving.  My goal for 2016 is to practice Thanks Living. The following quote outlines the essence of Thanks Living.

“Yesterday is history, tomorrow is a mystery, today is a gift of God,

which is why we call it the present.” ― Bill Keane

Having the right perspective on yesterday, today, and tomorrow helps me practice Thanks Living. At first I thought I would put my ideas into one blog post but the more I thought and prayed about it, I decided to write three blogs dealing with what it means to experience Thanks Living.

Yesterday is History

What do we do with the past? We’ve all been through some tough times. We’ve been hurt by the actions of others. We’ve made some bad choices. Is it possible to make peace with our past? According to a youtube video called The Josh Speaks, the first step to dealing with the past is to remember it. In other words don’t stuff bad memories and paper over them with some addiction that only adds to your difficulties today. Don’t allow yourself to become a victim of your past.  Dwell on past events and wrongs and they grow bigger, more powerful, and destroy today’s potential for happiness. What you feed is what will grow.

Writing down past memories is very therapeutic. When I wrote my memoir Born Three Times, I examined my past in great detail. There were some things I enjoyed remembering and some painful experiences that I wanted to forget. But as I looked at the totality of my life, it became clear that the person I am today is the result of the good, bad, and ugly of the past. I saw how God has used all the details of my life to grow me in my Christian life. 

Is your past so painful you can’t overcome its negative effects? Consider getting the help of a friend or a professional that can help provide you with positive coping skills. Being able to put the past behind us is also good for our health. Carrying grudges or hurts leads to stress and high blood pressure, depression, anxiety, and other negative side effects that hurt our minds and bodies.

Learning how to forgive the past is also good for us spiritually. The Bible tells us how important it is for us to forgive.

“For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you, but if you do not forgive others their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.” Matthew 6:14-15

Wow! I want to be forgiven by God, don’t you? I don’t want to have to give an account for every ugly word, or action, or thought I’ve had. So I must ask God to help me forgive those who hurt me in the past. We just recently cleaned out our bedroom closet. It had been way too long and the collection of dusty boxes and dust bunnies was a little overwhelming. It was also time to sort clothes and discard what no longer fit. Now that it’s done, I enjoy going into the closet to choose what to wear for the day. Forgiving the past is like cleaning out a dirty and dusty closet. You don’t like to stir things up, but once it is clean and you let stuff go, you find freedom.

“Freedom is what you do with what’s been done to you.” ~Jean Paul Sartre

Begin practicing Thanks Living this month as you prepare for the holiday season and stay tuned for my next blog post “Tomorrow is a Mystery.”  

A Box Full of Love

It’s not even November and some of us are already thinking about Christmas.  What’s the big rush you ask? It’s time to fill shoe boxes for Operation Christmas Child! Since 1993, the
Samaritan’s Purse project has collected and delivered more than 124 million gift-filled shoe

boxes to children in more than 150 countries and territories. These personalized shoe boxes filled with toys and gifts will go to children in some of the hardest-to-reach countries around the world.

Day after day on TV and the Internet, we see heart-wrenching pictures of children set adrift as refugees from war-torn countries. Also many families in Africa and Southeast Asia lack the basic necessities of life with little resources left to bring sunshine into a child’s life. We may not be able to personally go on a mission trip to help the world’s children, but we can support the work of Samaritan’s Purse in distributing shoe boxes to the neediest of them. 

Many senior adults in retirement communities and as individuals participate in this project. A recent internet video showed a 91-year-old woman sewing small tote bags to include in the boxes. Her goal for 2015 is to make 200 drawstrings bags. She wakes up with a purpose each and every day knowing that she is helping to bring joy to a child’s life.

What goes into a shoe box? The most popular items include a small doll, inflatable soccer ball, school supplies, hygiene items like toothbrushes and soap, flip-flops and socks. Non-chocolate candy, beads for girls, and flashlights for boys are much desired by children everywhere. A regular shoe box filled with items and wrapped in Christmas paper can be taken by November 23 to one of 4,000 drop-off sites in all 50 states. Operation Christmas Child also provides free pre-printed boxes for filling that are available at Christian bookstores.

Shoe boxes are flown to countries all over the world and distributed via boat, truck, and by mule into the remotest communities of people. The children and teenagers are then given an opportunity to take a class called “The Greatest Journey” that introduces them to God’s love through Jesus Christ. Lives are changed for eternity, as many receive the hope offered by the Gospel. And it all starts with a shoe box and a visit to your local dollar store.

More information on how you can help is found at the website: www.samaritanspurse.org/occ.

What Color is October?

Slow down and look around this October. Along with April, it is one of the most colorful months of the year.  No wonder fall and spring are favorite seasons for a lot of people.

The variety of colors everywhere has amazed me. Here’s a sample of what I have observed.

·        Leaves – The leaves are changing slowly in Georgia this year. Our first 40^o night time temperature arrives this weekend and will, hopefully, change the green leaves to yellow, red, purple, orange, and not just drab brown. I still miss my home town at this time of the year. It’s very hard to duplicate the beauty of a northern New York State fall.

·        Flowers – It was time to replace my spring flowers on our porch and deck. When I arrived at the garden center, my senses were assaulted by the display of fall flowers. The mums were yellow and bronze and everything in between.  But I knew they would not survive the first freeze, so I headed to the pansies. I chose the deep red and yellow ones. Their bright faces will keep me cheered during the cold and dreary winter.

·        Pumpkins – The color and variety of pumpkins has amazed me this year. Pumpkins and jack-o-lanterns are not just orange and round any more. White, green, and gold ones were stacked at the grocery store in a very appealing display.  Other vegetables such as squash and decorative gourds added to the color combo. Pumpkin bread anyone? Here’s a link to a Betty Crocker recipe. Enjoy!

http://www.bettycrocker.com/recipes/pumpkin-bread/9b9cb563-8f0c-4dd7-a1af-1e337eea64dc?mkwid=seVvAFu08_dc&pcrid=79321853456&gclid=CjwKEAjw1_KwBRDEz_WvncL4jGwSJAAEym0dJLk_IrMZv0GYtxx-ax9tYYJPrcTtYtWe8iL1omtw6hoCzlbw_wcB

·        Football – Here is Georgia everyone bleeds red and black for the University of Georgia Bulldogs and gold and black for the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets. Fans of the Atlanta Falcons sport their red and white shirts and are thrilled with their winning record. I’m not a football fan myself, but I enjoy seeing others wear their team colors. 

 

·        Apples – On a recent trip to the apple barn in Ellijay, Georgia we sampled many types of apples. We snacked on everything from bright red delicious to green Granny Smith. As I type, I am chewing a slightly tart Pink Lady.

·        Pink – Speaking of pink, October is National Breast Cancer Awareness Month and pink is everywhere.  I have several friends who have overcome this tough disease. My prayers go out to all those receiving treatment. May they experience many more colorful October days.

                            Do you have some fall sights or memories to share? 

Please comment below. I love hearing from you.